The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-02

certainly imprudent for the Indians and militia
were in great force in the neignborhood and
the result was that thew fell into an ambuscade
on the shore of Lake Kissimmee. about eighty
miles westward of Cape Maabar They were
attacked by numerous body of the enemy,
and the two officers in command and many of
the men were killed. The survivors regained
Mosquito Inlet by miracle. and Commodore
Dupont at once Get off an expedition to avenge
the massacre of the federals
detachment of two hundred mon was placed
under command of Captain Howick, and landed
near Mosquito inlet 1t soon reached New
Smyrna, some miles from the coast, and. after
taking such measures We're necessary, Cap
tain Howick struck off to the southwest in chase
of the party who were RESPONSIBLE for the HIS
simmee massacre, and this party had fed TO the
Everglades.
I'VE are also going to the Everglades" said
Gilbert.
.'Youl" said the officer. What are you going
to co there?'
Catch few scoundrels and chastise them,
you are going to do, captain
''Who are these scoundrelsE
Before l answer that, answer sme one ques-
ton. When did you leave New Smyrna2"
Eight days ago."
"And you have not met any party OF South
erners your wayW
mo, but we know from source that
detachments OF militia are in hiding in lower
Florida"
WHO is in command of the detachment you
are after1 Do you know him?'
Oh. yes! And il we catch him Mr. Burbank
will not be sorry
'.Why notq' asked James Burbank.
because he IS the Spaniard the court-mart1al
at ST. Augustine acquitted for want OF evil
dence."
"Texar!"
What" exclaimed Gilbert. sTexar chief of
the partisans, you are atter2"
Himself! He the author of the Kissim-
NEE massacre, at the head of some fifty fellows
like him; and We ascertained at New Smyrna
that he had taken himself off to the Ever
glades."
And if you catch him what you going to
doc" asked Carol.
"Shoot him on the spot" said Captain How
lex. THAT is the commodore's order, and
rest assured we shall execute IL without delay"
1t will easily be imagined what an effect this
revelation produced on James Burbank This
reinforcement meant the almost certain deliver
ance OF by and Zermah, the assured capture OF
the Spaniard and his accopplices and the in
evltable punishment of his crimes.
Gilbert then told Captain Howck the object
of their expedition to southern Florida. which,
in the first place. meant the deiverance of Ter
NAH and the girl. carried off to Carneral Island,
the half breeds letter showed. The captain
also learnt that the alibi invoked by the Span
lard at the court-martial could not be true,
although they could not at present dsprovs it.
But with this massacre at Kissmmee there
seemed to be chance of Texar again escaping
An unexpected observation of James Bur-
banks, however. led to somewhat different
thoughts
Can you tell me- he asked Captain Howck,
when the federal boats were attackedF
1.-THE massacre took place on the I'D OF
| March,"
But on the 22d of March Texar was at Black
Creek! How could he have taken part In the
| massacre al Kssmmee, two hundred miles
| awayW
What do you meanq" asked the captain.
81 mean that Texar could not have been at
the head of the Southerners who attacked your
men,"
You are mistaken. Mr.. Burbank. The
| Spaniard was seen by some of the men who es
| capped. l examined them yself, and they recog-
| nized Texar from having seen him at ST. Au-
| gustine"
That cannot be, captain. The letter written
| W nh y~n a
| Texar was at Black Greek"
Gilbert had listened without a word. He saw
! that his father must be right. The Spaniard
| could not have been near Kissmmee on the day
| of the massacre.
| what docs it matter?" he said. "There is
something about the man which at present we
| cannot understand and why should we try to do
| 500 On the 22d of March he was at Black
Creek, Zermah says. On the I'D he was at
the head of a party of Floridians, two hundred
| miles away, so you say. Well be SO. We are
| agreed that he is now in the Everglades Let us
| catch him as soon as CAM"
| Eyes, Gilbert. that's it," said Captain Howick
| 'And we'll shoot him anyhow! Let us be of. "
| The fact, like the others, was none the less
| incomprehensible. 1t seemed as though the
| Spsniard had double. ~
| Would the mystery be cleared up? In any
| case, the only thing to do was to make sure OF
| Texar; and Howick's seamen and Burbanks
| negroes fell in together, and resumed their way
| to the south.